TREE MAINTENANCE

Tree Maintenance is performed by the Department of Transportation's Division of Highway Services under a permit granted by the Maryland State Forester's Office. Under the Maryland Roadside Tree Law, all trees growing on a publicly maintained right of way are considered part of the State Forest and are maintained by the local government agency. All activities, such as pruning, removal, insect and disease control, planting, root cutting, etc., are completed by the Tree Maintenance Section of the Division of Highway Services, which may be contacted at 311.

TREE PLANTING

Montgomery County plants approximately 1800 trees per year to replace trees that have been removed from the public right-of-way. Trees are replaced by the County on a request basis. If you desire a tree, you should contact the Division of Highway Services at 311 for a County Arborist to inspect the property for appropriate species and location.

MAJOR TREES

Acceptable major trees shall be 8' to 12' tall and have a minimum trunk caliper of 1 3/4" - 2" as measured 6" above ground level. They shall be branched at a point approximately 60% of the total height of the tree above ground. Larger sizes are acceptable but must conform to American Standards for nursery stock.

MINOR TREES

Acceptable minor trees shall be a minimum of 8' - 10' tall and have a minimum caliper of 1" - 1 1/2" measured 6" above ground level. Remaining description is the same as for major trees.

APPROVED STREET TREES

MAJOR TREES

Scientific Name

Common Name

Height

Width

Betula nigra

River Birch (single stem)

40’-50’

40’-50’

Carpinus betulus

European Hornbeam

40’-60’

30’-40’

Carpinus betulus ‘Fastigiata'

European Hornbeam (upright form)

35’-40’

20’-30’

Celtis occidentalis

Hackberry

40’-50’

40’-50’

Cladasris lutea*

Yellowwood

30’-50’

40’-50’

Fagus grandifolia

American Beech

50'-90'

50'-75'

Fagus sylvatica

European Beech

50’-75’

40’-60’

Ginkgo biloba

Ginkgo (male, fruitless)

50’-80’

40’-80’

Gleditsia triacanthos

Honeylocust, thornless

50’-70’

35’-50’

Gymnocladus dioicus

Kentucky Coffeetree (male, seedless)

60'-75'

40'-50'

Liquidambar styraciflua

Sweetgum (fruitless)

65’-75’

40’-50’

Nyssa sylvatica

Blackgum

40’-70’

35’-45’

Platanus x acerifolia

London Planetree

70’-80’

55’-65’

Quercus alba

White Oak

60'-80'

60'-80'

Quercus lyrata

Overcup Oak

45'-55'

45'-55'

Quercus bicolor

Swamp White Oak

60’-80’

50’-80’

Quercus macrocarpa

Bur Oak

70'-80'

70'-85'

Quercus robur

English Oak

70'-80'

75'-85'

Quercus rubra

Northern Red Oak

60’-80’

45’-60’

Quercus phellos

Willow Oak

60’-75’

40’-60’

Sophora japonica

Japanese Pagoda Tree

40’-70’

30’-40’

Taxodium distichum

Bald Cypress

50'-70'

30'-35'

Tilia tomentosa

Silver Linden

50’-60’

50’-60’

Ulmus americana "Valley Forge"

American Elm

60'-80'

30'-50'

Ulmus parvifolia

Lacebark Elm

40’-45’

45’-50’

Zelkova serrata ‘Village Green'

Village Green Zelkova

50’-60’

50’-60’

* denotes a flowering tree
Other species are considered by request.

MINOR TREES

Acer campestre

Hedge Maple

30’-35’

30’-35’

Acer ginnala

Amur Maple

15’-20’

15’-25

Acer griseum

Paperbark Maple

20’-30’

15’-25’

Amelanchier laevis*

Allegheny Serviceberry

30’-40’

15’-20’

Carpinus caroliniana

American Hornbeam

20’-40’

20’-30’

Cercis canadensis*

“Redbud Texas White”

20’-30’

15’-30’

Cercis Canadensis*

Eastern Redbud

20’-30’

15’-30’

Chionanthus virginicus*

Fringetree (tree form)

12’-20’

12’-20’

Cornus florida *

White Flowering Dogwood

20’-30’

20’-30’

Cornus florida ‘rubra’*

Pink Flowering Dogwood

20’-30’

20’-30’

Cornus kousa*

Kousa Dogwood

15’-20’

15’-20’

Crataegus crusgalli ‘inermis'*

Cockspur Hawthorn, thornless

25’-30’

25’-35

Craetaegus virdis

Green Hawthorn

20’-35’

20’-35’

Koelruteria paniculata*

Goldenraintree

30’-40’

30’-40’

Malus x*

Flowering Crabapple

20’-25’

15’-20’

Ostrya virginiana

Ironwood

25'-40'

20'-30'

Parriotia persica

Persian Parrotia

20'-40'

15'-30'

Prunus x incamp 'Okame'*

Okame Cherry

15-‘25’

15-‘20’

Quercus myrsinifolia

Chinese Evergreen Oak

30’-35’

30’-35’

Styrax japonicus*

Japanese Snowbell

20’-30’

15’-25’

Syringia reticulate*

Japanese lilac

20’-25’

15’-20’

* denotes a flowering tree
Other species are considered by request.

Montgomery County Design Standards set the guidelines for trees planted on the right of way, as well as the spacing between trees and other features commonly found on the public right of way. Design standards were set by Division of Transportation Engineering.

TREE PRUNING

'to 14' over the road and 8' over the sidewalk. Branches obscuring traffic signals stop signs and other traffic control devices are also removed. Our goal is to trim trees to maintain them and, if possible, to improve their health and appearance.

Trees are also trimmed by the various utility companies, most commonly PEPCO, to minimize problems caused by branches rubbing on energized lines. This activity is not regulated by Montgomery County. Questions regarding this type of trimming should be directed to the appropriate utility company. If you feel that a tree growing on a County maintained roadway is in need of pruning, contact the Division of Highway Services at 311 to request an inspection.

If you feel that a tree growing on a State maintained road (a numbered road such as MD 97, Georgia Avenue,) needs attention, you should contact the Maryland State Highway Administration field office at 301-948-2477 (Gaithersburg Shop) or 301-572-5166 (Fairland Shop).

Upon receipt of a request to trim a tree, an inspection order is generated. Unless an emergency situation is indicated, inspection of the request occurs the next time a County Arborist does routine inspection in the neighborhood. Upon inspection, the work needed, if any, is prioritized based on its severity. Work that has the greatest potential to adversely affect public safety receives the highest priority. Work orders are created following inspection, with those work orders having the highest priority being assigned to crews first.

TREE REMOVAL

Trees are removed for a number of reasons including death of the tree, structural defect, declining health, etc. Requests to remove a tree from the public right of way should be made to the Division of Highway Services. Requests are inspected by County Arborists to determine if the tree should be removed and the priority it should receive. Occasionally, trees that require removal have power lines in close proximity to parts of the tree. In this case, the removal of the tree must be coordinated with the appropriate utility, which can add to the length of time required to effect the removal of the tree.

STUMP REMOVAL

Upon removal of a tree, the location of the stump, if any, is noted in our tree management system for future "removal". Removal consists of the mechanical grinding of the stump and those exposed roots radiating from the stump out to where the roots first enter the ground. The stump and roots are ground to a depth of 6" below the surrounding ground level. The wood chips are removed and the hole filled with a topsoil mixture and the surface seeded with grass. The dirt is left mounded slightly to allow for settlement as the remaining underground portions of the stump rot. It is helpful for the establishment of the grass to water the seeded area until the grass is established.

For any MCDOT service request or complaint, call 311
When dialing outside of the county, call 240-777-0311 or submit via their website.

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